Railroad electric signal apparatus



(No Model.) I, 2 sheets-sheen 1.

@.AjSCoTT.

RAILROAD ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS. No. 301,837. .N Patent@ July 8, 1884.

No Model.) 2 Sheet-Sheet 2.

C.` A. SCOTT.

RAILROAD ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS. v

No. 301,837. Paented July 8, 1884.

Elly @4%65 0% @M s i'rnn .Stars-s CHARLES A. SCOTT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,837, dated July 8, 1884.

Application filed November 16, 1883. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, `it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bos` ton, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Railway Electric Signaling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichlike letters, in-

dicating like parts- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of a railway-crossing, showing the arrangement ofthe present apparatus, and illustrating the manner `of applying it in governing train movements. lever and signal movements. Fig. `3, Sheet 2, shows, to an enlargedscale, so much of the levers and their connections and co-operating appliances as further to illustrate the opera.- tion of the present system of apparatus; and Fig. 4L is a detached view of a recording apparatus, to an enlarged scale, intended for use in connection with the apparatus of Fig. 1, in the manner presently to be described.

My present system of apparatus relates ina general way to the-governing of train movements with reference to safety at street or grade crossings, or at draw-bridges, or at other points where such special protection is desired. In it Iuse mechanically-actuated signals, cornbined with electric locks and with alarm-bells and recording mechanism, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

R and R may represent two parallel tracks, and R2 a track-crossing at grade, and for present purposes it will suffice to ,show and describe the apparatus as arranged for governing the movement of trains approaching from the right on the track R, or moving in the direction indicated by the arrow w. At the usual or any desired distance from the crossing I arrange the home signal B, and at a distance therefrom-say one thousand eight hundred feet,more or less-a distant signal,

These signals may be of any desired construction, such as are adapted to be operated by suitable hand-levers, B B2, from the switch- Inans stand or cabin, through the usual or any Fig. 2, by outline View, illustrates the desired connections, b. At a considerable'distance out on the track-say one-half mile or more- I make a short insulated section of track, 1" r, and connect the opposite rails thereof by wires 1 2 3, through battery o2, with an 5 5v annunciator, A, of any desired construction. This gives a normally-open circuit, which I call circuit No. l. Just inside vthe distant signal B5, I arrange the terminals of circuit N o. 2, which circuit may consist of wires 4c, 5, 1, '6o and 6, of which the terminal wire 6 is connected to the track-rail, and the terminal wireiis connected with a track-instrument, r2, which, as shown, consists of a bar in suitable position to be engaged by the wheel-while running on the 65 rail. This is a normally-open circuit, and is intended,whenl closed, to operate a bell-ringer, A', by an electro-magnet included in the circuit, as shown.- On the other side of the crossing'is an insulated track-circuit, r3 r3, to oppo- 7o site rails of which the circuit-wires 7 and 8 are connected. Thesewires lead through a battery, o, and constitute circuit No. 3. A wire 9, leads fromV one of the rails r3 to' and through electromagnet D2, and back by wire 10 to one pole of 7 5 batteryo, so as, in connection with wire 8, to constitute circuit N 0.4. Circuit No. 3 is normally open and circuit No. 4 is normally closed. Circuit No. 9 extends from `battery o5 by wire 10 through circuit make-and-break mechanism 8ol m, by wire 11 through electro-magnet D, and by wire 12 back to the battery. It is normally closed. Circuit No. 8 goesfrom battery o3 by wire 13 to and through electro-magnet D, by

wire 14 to contact-stop s, thence by armature- 85 t,

lever c and wire 15 to armature-lever o, thence by contact-stop S5 and wire 16 to battery. It

is normally'closed. Circuit No. 5 goes from battery c by wire 17 through electro-magnet D3, thence by wires 18 and 15 to armature-.9o lever o, thence by contact-stop .s4-and wire 19 back to the battery. `It is normally closed. Circuit No. 6 goes from the saine battery, o', by wires 19 and 2O to contact d', thence by switch d and wires21 and 17 back to battery. It is 9 5 normally an open circuit. Circuit No. 7 goes from battery o" by wire 21 through electromagnet D4, thence by wire 22 to contact d2, thence by switch d and wire 21 back to the battery. The circuit-changer m is of any suit- 10o able construction, adapted, when the head n is forced in by a knob, n, as presently to be described, to break circuit No. 9, and such that by a spring the circuit will be reelosed after the knob a has passed, the knob n turning on a pivot as it moves downward on its reverse motion, so as not then to break the circuit. This construction (shown more particularly in Fig. 3) is included in the subjectmatter of Letters Patent No. 282,230, issued to me July 31, 1853.

The arrangement of armature-levers i, c, and o will be understood from the description of their operation presently to be given.

In the hand mechanism employed in this apparatus I prefer the use of the Saxby and Farmer levers, of which l'. have shown two, B B2, of which the first one, B, is intended to operate the home signal B4, and the other, B2, is to operate the distant signal Bf. The connecting rod B of lever B has a notch, recess, or shoulder, a, adapted and in suitable position so that when the signal Bl is at safety it may be engaged by a hook or catch, c, of an armaturelevcr, c, the eleetro-magnet D of which is included in circuit No. S. The connecting-rod B of the other lever, B2, carries a swinging knob, yn, which, when the lever B2 is moved to move the rod B upward, and. so set signal B to safety, engages the head n of the circuitchanger mi and breaks circuit No. 9, but, as already stated, docs not break such circuit at its return motion. Additional levers are to be provided for working signals, say, at G G on the crossing track B2, at suitable distance from the crossing, and all these levers are provided with mechanical interlocking devices, such that safety-signals can be displayed on only one line at a time, and setting the proper signals to safety 7 will lock all conflicting signals at danger, or the apparatus herein represented or other like apparatus may be added for such conflicting line.

Near the distant signal B5, I arrange another series ofelcctric circuits. The first,No.l0,start ing from battery ci, goes through a bell-ringing magnet DT and wire 2i to contact-stop c1, thence by armaturc-lever z* and wire 25 to one, z, oftwo terminals, from the other, z2, of which wire 26 goes back to the battery. Circuit No. l1 includes battery o, wires 27, 28, and 29, and a part of one track, o". Circuit No. l2 (normally open) is composed of the same battery, o, and of wires 29 and 30, which lead to the opposite track-rails, the closing of this circuit being done by the wheels and axle, which then form a part thereof.

rlhat the practical operation of the apparatus thus shown and described may be the better understood, I will assume that a train approaches the crossing 011 the track R, coming from the right, as indicated by arrow w. As soon as the train enters on the insulated section of track r, the cross connection made by wheels and axle from rail to rail closes circuit No. 1, so as to cause the annunciator A to indicate accordingly. lf everything is clear and ready for the reception of such train-by which I mean in the present case the proper display of danger signal or signals G G on the crossing line R'l-the operator pulls lever B, (with which rod B is connected,) and by the usual rod, wire, rope, orgas-pipe connections setsthc home signal B at safety. If interlocking levers be used, this motion locks at danger the signals G- G of the line B2, so as to guard against and prevent the approach of a train from one direction or the other, as may be required by the train arrangements ofthe road. This `movement of lever B, with its rod B', brings the latter to such position that the notch, stop, or recess a thereon stands opposite to and in position to be engaged by the hook or catch c of armature-lever c, and also by the same movement lever BL is mechanically unlocked. rlhe operator then pulls'this lever B2, (with which rod is eonnected,) so as by the usual me chanical connections to set distant signal B"l at safety lhe rod B, in rising, by its knob n engaging the head n, breaks circuit No. 9, so that electro-magnet D is demagnetized, and the `free end of its armature-lever fi, under the influences of its rctraetilc spring, leaves the con'tact-stop s, passes under and to a position back of the catch cL of armature-lever c, so as to be locked thereby, and engages dead-stop s. This breaks at s the No. S circuit, so that electro-magnet D is demagnetized, and its armaturelever c moves under the influence of its rctractilc spring, so that its catch c enters the notch a of lever-rod B, and locking-lever B locks the home signal Bl at safety XVhen the approaching train reaches the track-insinuv ment r2, it closes circuit No. 2, so as to cause the bell-ringer and bell A to sound, and thereby inform the operator or signalman that the train has passed the distant signal Bl". He then reverses lever B2 and rod B, so .as to set distant signal 35 to dangen and thereby protect that train as against a following train; but as No. 8 circuit still remains broken, the lever-rod B remains locked, and with it the home signal B at safety The train, having passed over the crossing, enters on the insulated track-section r, and by making a cross connection through wheels and axle it closes circuit No. 8 and diverts the current of battery o from the circuit No. 4, and so demagnetizes electro-magnet D2, and its armature-lever o, under the inliuence of its retractile spring, leaves the contact-stops s* 35 and goes to the dead-stops s 87. rlhis breaks circuit No. 5, demagnetizes electro-magnet D, so that armature-lever c is, under the iniluence of its retractile spring, free to turn on its pivot c', so that its 4free end shall go to dead-stop s. As a result of this the catch c swings clear of and unlocks the free end of the armature-lever fi, and the latter, being drawn over by its magnet D, which is now in a closed circuit, goes to the contact-stop s, and so closes the break at .s in circuit No. 8, but

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.this circuit No. 8 is still broken at's5, and will remain so until the rear end of the train leaves the insulated track-section r3. As soon as this takes place circuit No. 3 is broken, and the current of battery t goes to circuit No. 4, so as to again excite magnet D2, as a result of which armature-lever o is again brought to contact-stop S5, and circuit No. 8 is completely restored. Its magnet D', then being again excited, draws over the armature-lever c, and causes the hook or catch c' to clear the recess ct on' the lever-rod B', so that the latter is then unlocked, and with it `the home signal Bt. Should a train stop from any cause after getting a distant safety signalsay just before it passes the home signal Bt-and it becomes necessary or desirable to take the right vof way from that train and give it to another, say, on the track B2, the signalman can do so by working an electric button or hand-switch, d, which' he throws onto the contact d', and by doing so diverts the current of battery c' onto the circuit No. 6, and demagnetizcs the magnet D3 of circuit No. 5, with the result of unlocking, in the manner valready described, the armaturelever i and reclosing circuit No. 8 at 8,and so, as before, unlocking the lever B' and its signal B5. The latter may be then set at dangen so as to bar the furtherl progressl of the train on track B, after which the right of way may be given to the other' train; also, this movement of the hand-switch d fromits contact dZ will break circuit No.l 7, so las to demagnetize electro-magnet D, as a result of which its armature-lever u will go from dead-stop z' to contact-stop` a and close a bell-ringing circuit through electro-magnet D5 and battery v5, and actuatea bell, q, so as effectually to call the attention of the signalman to what he is doing, and to remind him that he is using vthe apparatus in an exceptional manner.

As this is an irregular and exceptional way of using the apparatus, I consider it better to add to the bell-ringer q, or substitute for it, as may be preferred, a recording-instrument, more fully shown in Fig. 4, where a push-button, d3, takes the place4 of the hand-switch d of Fig. l, as its mechanical equivalent. If

-this recorder be used in addition to the bellringer q, I close the No.V 6 circuit by elevating the button d5 so as to bring the movable contact d* to the fixed contact d5, the wire 20 of the fixedv contact going to the wire 19 of circuit No. 5, and the wire 23 of the movable contact d going to the wire 2l, which constitutes a part of circuits Nos. 6 and 7. The lat-` ter leads through a fixed contact,' d, with which a movablecontact, dl, makes connectionl when thebutton d is down, so as to close or open circuit No. 7, through which the'action of the bell q is controlled. Hence it will be seen that, as regards the bell-ringing apparatus and the unlocking of the home-signaly lever B', the; push-button d5 and the switch d v are substantially the same, and any suitable make-and-break mechanism adapted to the purposes in view may be substituted for either 5 but if the bell-ringer is not desired, circuit No. 7, with itscontacts d and all, may be omitted. The recorder is employed in order to makea record of the frequency with which the apparatus is used in the exceptional manner above indicated. l'Io this end I provide a dial-plate, P,which, with all its appliances, I inclose in a close or locked box, P', but with the button or knobd3 protruding. The' insulated `end of the knob-stem d5 engages the end of a sliding bar, y, suitably working in guides g', so that it may be' moved upward with the button, and a spring, g5, is added .for effecting the reverse or downward movement.v The bar g carries a pawl, g5, held by a spring, g5, in engagement with the teeth of aratchet-wheel, h, which, as rotated, carries with it an index, h', and the parts are so proportioned that each upward movement Aof the button d3 to close circuit N o. 6 and unlock the home-signal lever-rod B' shall move the index one space. A lever, 7c, is combined witha spring, k', and with a drum, k2, (shown in dotted lines,) on theratchet-wheel shaft, so as to act as a brake to prevent the ratchet-wheel from turning too far.r at each movement, and when one complete. revolution is made a shoulder, 705, engages the end ofthe lever so as to render necessary the resetting of the apparatus by the inspector who carries the key; otherwise the signalman might use the apparatus in the exceptional way referred to oftener than he ought, and conceal thefact by rotating the index around to zero; butother suitable stop may be employed in lieu of the shoulder k3. In this way I keep a check on the signalman as regards abnormal or irregular use of the apparatus.

As an additional element of safety, or to guard against the passing of the distant signalB5 when atdanger, Iarrange a `Abellringing circuit, No. 10, and a bell-ringer, g', at that point, and provide a pair of springcontacts, z2 z5,.in such relationship that 'when the signal B5 is a "danger7 the circuit No. 10will be closed at that point, say, by the semaphore-arm moving one terminal into contact withthe other, though other form of circuit-closer may be used. Vhen the arm goes down or to safety,77 the terminals or contacts z2 z3 will spring apart and break the circuit.

Included in circuit No. l0, and as a part thereof, is an armature-lever, zt, which plays between dead and contact stops z5 z5. Normally thearmature-lever zt will beheld to the dead-stop z by electro-magnet D5, so as to break circuit No. l0, the magnet DG being in circuit No. 11 (which includes a part of a rail) ofv the insulated track-sectionA a". From one of the wires 28 of this circuit No. 1l a wire, 30, goes to an opposite track-rail ofthe insulated section r', so as to form a normallyopen circuit, No. 12, such circuit being on the side of the distant signal B5 from which the IOO train approaches in the normal operation of the road. Then,when thetraiu runs onto the insulated section r, the wheels and axle make a cross connection between the rails, so as to close circuit No. 12 and take the current of battery e, so as to demagnetize magnet D6 and let armature-lever c* go to contact-stop z5 and close circuit No. 10 at that point. If, then, signal B be at danger,7 circuit No. 10 will be completely closed, and the large bell q will sound, so as to call the attention of the engineer to the fact that the signal B5 is at dangerg7 but if the signal 13" is at safety, circuit No. 10 will not be closed, and no alarm will be given.

\Vhile for convenience of illustration I have herein shown my improvement as adapted to use in connection with a grade-crossing and the locking of the lever of a signal governing the passage of trains, I do not limit myself to such application thereof, as the locking of a switch lever or levers or a switch or bridge lock or locks may be similarly eiected, and a switch, a locking-bolt, or other movable appliance connected with a railway-track and a lever operating the same would, in the combinations claimed, be the mechanical equivalents of a signal and a hand-lever, as herein described and shown.

Any proper track-instrument by which a circuit may be broken and restored in and by the passage of a train would be the equivalent of and may be substituted for the insulated track-sections described,and the reference, as claimed, by the term track-instrument77 is to an insulated section or its described substitute.

I claim herein as my invention- I. The combination of a circuit No. l, governed as to electrical condition by a track-instrument, an annunciator operated by the current of said circuit, a signal, a circuit No. 2, governed as to electrical condition byatrackinstrument on the side of the signal opposite to the track-instrument of circuit No. l, and a bell-ringer operated through a magnet by the current of said circuit No. 2, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a signal, a circuit No. l0, a circuit`closer included in,s aid circuit and actuated by the movements of the signal, a bell-ringer actuated through a magnet by the current of/said circuit when closed, a circuit No. l1, the current of which actuates through a magnet an armature-lever, which closes circuit No. l() when the magnet of circuit No. 11 is short-circuited, and a circuit No. l2, governedas to electrical condition by a track-instrnment, and connected with circuit No. 11, so as to short-circuit the magnet thereof by the passage of a train, substantially as set i'orth.

3. The combination of a home signal, adistant signal, hand-levers connected with and adapted to operate said signals, an electric circuit No. S, the current of which actuates through a magnet an armature-lever adapted to lock and unlock the hand-lever of the home Ver, and a circuit No. 4, through a track-inl strument, for closing circuit No. 8 and unlocking the hand-lever of the home signal, substantially as set forth.

4L. The combination of a home and a distant signal, hand-levers connected with and adapted to operate said signals, an electric circuit No. S, the current of which actuates through a magnet an armature-lever adapted to lock and unlock the hand-lever of the home signal, an electric circuit No. 9, opened and closed by or from the hand-lever of the distant signal, an armature-lever actuated through a magnet by the current of said circuit, which opens and closes circuit No. 8, an electric circuit N o. 5, and an armaturelever actuated through a magnet by the current thereof, which locks circuit No. 8 in a broken condition, a normally-open electric circuit No. 6, which, when closed, short-circuits the magnet of circuit No. 5 and closes circuit No. 8 and a recording apparatus connected with circuit No. 6, and having a member which by its movement closes said circuit to unlock the hand-lever of the home signal and makes a simultaneous record of the unlocking thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a signal, a handlever connected with andl adapted to operate said signal, an armature lever actuated through a magnet by the current of an electric circuit No. 8, to lock and unlock said hand-lever, an electric `circuit No. 5, and an armature lever actuated through a magnet by the current thereof, which locks circuit No. 8 in a broken condition, a normally-open eircuit No. G, which, when closed, short-circuits the magnet of circuit No. 5 and closes circuit No. 8, and a movable stem, switch, or button adapted to close circuit No. 6, and thereby to unlock the hand-lever, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of asignal, ahand-le- Ver connected with and adapted to operate said signal, an armature lever actuated through at magnet by the current of an electric circuitv No. :8, to lock and unlock said hand-lever, an electric circuit No. 5, and an armature lever' actuated through a magnet by the current thereof, which locks circuit N o. 8 in a broken condition, a normally-open circuit No. G, which, when closed, short-circuits the magnet of circuit No. 5 and closes circuit- No. 8, a circuit No. 7, and a bell-ringer actuated through a magnet by the currentof said circuit when opened, and a movable stem,

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switch, or button adapted to close circuit No. stem at one extremity of its traverse, and- 6 and open circuit No. 7, and thereby to unelectric circuits having their Wires connected l lock the hand-lever, and to maintain a continuto the Xed and movable contact-points, reous audible signal While the same is in an unspectively, substantially as set forth. 5 locked condition, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have -hereunto set .I5

7. The combination of a stem having two my hand. movable contact-points secured thereto, re-

. CHARLES A. SCOTT. cording mechanism actuated bythe movements Witnesses: l

. of said stem, ktwo fixed contact-points, each of J. SNO'WDEN BELL, 1o which touches one of the contactpoints of the CHARLES A. TERRY. 

